Universities closed indefinitely

August 21, 2012, 12:00 pm , The Island

by Dasun Edirisinghe

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake yesterday decided to close all universities, except medical faculties, until further notice, due to the ongoing strike by university teachers.

However, the universities whose dons have not taken part in the ongoing trade union action will function normally.

Ministry spokesman Mangala Janaka told The Island that the Uva Wellassa, South-Eastern, Buddhist and Pali, Buddasrawaka Bhikkhu universities and the Yakkala Wickramaarchchi Ayurvedha Institute would function as usual.

University teachers launched an all out strike on July 04 demanding that the government allocate 6 per cent of the GDP for education, consult them when taking decision on the higher education sector and they be given a pay hike.

The full statement issued by Minister Dissanayake is as follows:

"The university crisis in this country has been continuing without a practical solution for the last two months, putting the most intelligent student segment of this country in darkness and without any hopes and their parents are badly frustrated. The government strongly believes that this is not a healthy environment for all stakeholders, especially the students and parents.

When we analyze the prevailing situation in the academic crisis, it is very clear to all that there are some invisible parties who want to use this crisis to achieve their petty political motives while they do not seek any positive alternatives to resolve the matter amicably.

Initially, we strongly believed that there were no political motives behind this trade union action and based on that assumption for the last two months, the government put all its efforts into resolving the matter in amicable manner through negotiations and a friendly series of discussions. As a result, we had series of discussions with the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) at three levels. Firstly, at the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) level, secondly at the Presidential Secretary level with the MOHE, and finally with Hon. Minister Basil Rajapaksa, with the Presidential Secretary on concurrence with the MOHE. We have had around ten discussions and exchanging of letters, drafts of MOU etc. and still FUTA has not agreed to resolve this matter amicably due to some unknown reasons which may be mainly due to political reasons.

What we now strongly believe is that there may be some hidden political agendas and motives behind this trade union action and by using the same few parties are trying to create a political crisis in the country to use it to their advantage by taking the majority of innocent academics against their will for this trade union action. Finally, their aim is to create instability and a political crisis leading to a regime change, we guess.

To prove that, we will explain FUTAs six main demands, which they have put forward before the trade union action.

1. Increase the basic salary of all university academics by 20% immediately.

2. Spend 6% of GDP on education and work to achieve this target during the next few years.

3. Creat a separate service for university academics (SLUAS)

4. De-politicise the universities and protect the academic freedom of the teachers.

5. When introducing changes to the higher education system and changing the managements do it in consultation with the academics.

6. Allow the academic community to actively participate in the economic development process and create a conducive environment.

As a result of series of discussions, the government has already agreed to five demands from No.2 to No.6 in writing. In case of demand No.1, (20% basic salary increase) the government has clearly indicated to FUTA that for the time being it is unable to accept that demand since it may create many discrepancies and anomalies in the national salary structure creating other repercussions. Please note the fact that during the last one year the government has given them total salary increases ranging from from 36 per cent to 83 per cent through various allowances and payments. Therefore, it is impossible to consider the demand No.1 now, but definitely in the future when the right environment occurs. In our discussions, FUTA has clearly accepted the fact that it is not possible for the government to give a further salary increase to them for the time being. Further, the government has proposed to appoint a special Presidential Commission on Higher Education and to establish a Post Graduate University in the near future. The government has clearly already communicated the above facts in writing to the FUTA and still FUTA is dragging this trade union action without any reasonable reason other than political reasons. This is what we now have clearly observed from the outcome during the last two months.

The government strongly believes that it is high time to make the universities normal and run the system smoothly to safeguard the future of students and the parents’ expectations. We would like to focus on the following situation prevailing in the university system today:

1. Trade union action is active in various levels depending on the university, faculty and Institute:

a. There are universities, institutes and faculties not participating in the trade union action at all. Those are:

i. Uva Wellassa university

ii. South-Eastern University

iii. Buddhist and Pali University - Homagama

iv. Buddasrawaka University – Anuradhapura

v. Yakkala Wickramaarchchi Ayurvedha Institute

vi. All the medical faculties, except Ruhuna university medical faculty.

vii. In some universities various percentages of academics are performing their lectures, exams and other workshops and research activities.

The above prevailing situation creates a very confusing state and nobody knows whether the university system is effectively functioning or not.

2. The above complicated situation does not support the smooth functioning of the university system and government thinks that the situation should be rectified as soon as possible.

3. As the Minister of Higher Education, I had a detailed discussion on 20th August, 2012 with all the Vice Chancellors and Directors of universities and the academics that did not participate in the trade union action at present and all of them insisted that the prevailing environment in the university system is not very conducive and we have to take some remedial action immediately.

4. As power given in the University Act No.16, 1978 section 20(4)(a) as the Minister of Higher education, I have decided to close the following universities and institutes until further notice for academic activities effective from 21st August, 2012.

University of Colombo, except the Faculty of Medicine

University of Peradeniya, except the Faculty of Medicine

University of Sri Jayewardenepura, except the Faculty of Medicine

University of Kelaniya, except the Faculty of Medicine

University of Moratuwa

University of Jaffna, except the Faculty of Medicine

University of Ruhuna, except the Faculty of Medicine

Eastern University, Sri Lanka, except the Faculty of Health-Care Sciences

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, except the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences

Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Wayamba University of Sri Lanka

University of Visual and Performing Arts

The Open University of Sri Lanka

Institute of Indigenous Medicine

University of Colombo School of Computing

Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies

Institute of Human Resource Advancement (IHRA), University of Colombo

Institute of Technology, University of Moratuwa

Sripalee Campus

Trincomalee Campus

Vavuniya Campus

5. At the same time MOHE will notify the resumption date of the above universities and institutes as soon as possible."